As a proud new homeowner, you’re probably looking forward to relaxing in your new abode after you’re done unpacking. But unfortunately, disasters can strike even before you’ve opened those final boxes and properly settled in. So what happens if there’s an electric fire at your brand new house? Who’s responsible for this mess, anyway?

Fortunately, a South Carolina independent insurance agent can not only answer this question for you but also help you get equipped with the proper homeowners insurance for you. They know just the right protection to keep you safe in your new home, and they’ll get you set up with it long before you ever need to file a claim. But first, here’s how homeowners insurance would work in this case.

Who’s Responsible If There’s an Electric Fire in My New House?

Though you may not be expecting it, sadly electric fires can and do happen, even in brand-new houses. While the cause of the electric fire would probably be due to the previous owner or electrician, since you’re the current homeowner, you’d be responsible for filing insurance claims. You’d need to go through your homeowners insurance to set up repairs for your home and get reimbursement. Fortunately, insurance companies often conduct property inspections up front.

Am I Responsible for Covering Any Damage Caused by the Electric Fire?

Well, your homeowners insurance would be, yes. Your homeowners insurance would provide reimbursement for the damage up to your policy’s limit in each category, such as structural and contents coverage. Beyond that, you’d be responsible for covering the additional expenses out of pocket. That’s why it’s important to get set up with enough coverage from the start, in case of strange incidents like this one. Your South Carolina independent insurance agent can help.

What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover in South Carolina?

Like policies across the country, homeowners insurance in South Carolina is set up to cover not just the physical structure of the home, but also the family inside it, and their stuff. While you can modify your homeowners insurance by adding additional coverages, the main protections offered by standard policies in South Carolina include:

• Contents coverage: Homeowners insurance provides protection for your stuff like clothing, silverware, furniture, etc. from disasters like fire, theft, etc.
• Structural coverage: Homeowners insurance also protects the home’s structure from perils like natural disasters, fire, vandalism, etc.
• Legal coverage: Homeowners insurance provides liability coverage against lawsuits filed by third parties. This coverage reimburses for legal costs like attorney and court fees.
• Additional living expenses coverage: Homeowners insurance also covers extra expenses if your home becomes temporarily unlivable after a covered disaster strikes. This coverage reimburses for extra expenses like hotel rooms, additional mileage, meal costs, etc.

Your South Carolina independent insurance agent can further explain the main coverages provided in standard homeowners insurance policies.

What Doesn't Homeowners Insurance Cover in South Carolina?

While homeowners insurance in South Carolina offers a lot of critical coverage, it also comes with its own set of exclusions. A few common examples of exclusions include:

In the coastal state of South Carolina, you may want to consider adding a separate flood insurance policy to protect your home. A South Carolina independent insurance agent can help you address any areas of concern in which you feel your homeowners policy may be lacking coverage.

What Are the Top Five Risks for Homeowners in South Carolina?

When shopping for homeowners insurance, it’s helpful to know the top risks to anticipate needing protection for in your area. Check out the most common risks homeowners in South Carolina face, and keep these in mind when selecting your coverage.

Top five risks for homeowners in South Carolina

1. Hurricanes and tropical storms
2. Ice storms and freezing
3. Burglary and other property crimes
4. Wildfires and residential fires
5. Flooding and water damage

With residential fires being among the most common risk South Carolina homeowners face, it’s even more important to know how your coverage works in the event of an unexpected fire. Your South Carolina independent insurance agent will make sure you feel adequately protected against these most common disasters and more.

Will My Rates Be Affected Even Though I’m Not Responsible for the Damage?

Probably not. Fortunately, stand-alone incidents don’t often cause an increase in your homeowners insurance premiums. Your homeowners insurance company would also take the fact that the fire wasn’t even your fault into consideration. Now, if you began to file claims for house fires regularly and/or due to a fault of your own, that could be a different story. But more likely your insurance company would just non-renew your coverage after multiple incidents.

Here’s How a South Carolina Independent Insurance Agent Would Help

When it comes to protecting your brand-new home against unexpected electric fires and all other strange incidents, no one’s better equipped to help than a South Carolina independent insurance agent. Independent insurance agents search through multiple carriers to find providers who specialize in homeowners insurance, deliver quotes from a number of different sources, and help you walk through them all to find the best blend of coverage and cost.